New Line lines up Fuqua for ‘Chicagoland’

Heist pic jockeys for helmer's eye

Antoine Fuqua is looking to get back to the type of film that made him famous, as the “Training Day” director beat out a handful of directors to enter negotiations to helm “Chicagoland” at New Line. Peter Morgan penned the script, with Simon Kinberg on board to produce.

Project is the latest among several to which the helmer has been attached, including “Steel Town” at Legendary, “Storming Vegas” for Summit-Lionsgate and the Eminem boxing pic “Southpaw.” It is unknown which project is far enough along to be Fuqua’s next.

Plot details on the crime drama “Chicagoland” are scarce, but sources say that the film is in the vein of “Training Day,” which earned critical success for the director and a best actor Oscar for Denzel Washington.

A handful of directors, including Stephen Gaghan, had been pursuing the job, but New Line decided to go with Fuqua, who’s repped by CAA and Ziffren Brittenham. No start date has been set.